2. No pesticides here!

Organic produce by definition is grown without chemical pesticides. Organic meats and dairy come from animals that never ingest growth hormones or antibiotics.

Pesticides can carry toxins that can damage nerve and brain cells. In fact, a common type of pesticide (organophosphates) was first developed in the early 1900s; Hitler considered using it as a nerve gas during World War II (thankfully, it was never deployed). While the worst types of organophosphates (such as DDT) have been banned for use as pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides are still used routinely in agriculture production in countries around the world. The United States Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) has taken steps to limit their availability in the U.S.

Still, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and other types of toxins are still routinely used in agricultural production in the U.S. Consumer Reports has a great, free report (From Crop to Table: Pesticide Use in Produce) that talks more about changes in pesticide use in the U.S., and what still needs to be done to reduce the risk these toxins present to us.

3. Organic food helps children grow up strong and healthy.

The brains as well as bodies of your children are more susceptible to the toxins and pesticides than you are. Feeding them organically grown produce and dairy allows you to feed your offspring without exposing them to genetically modified organisms or pesticides.

Produce grown organically is just more nutritious! Foods grown organically have more than 21 percent more iron, 27 percent more vitamin C, more than 29 percent more magnesium and almost 14 percent more phosphorous than their conventionally grown counterparts!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that as much as half of all of our primary drinking sources have been polluted by pesticides. Farmers growing organic food don’t use pesticides, thus reducing the amount of potential pollution in the water we drink.

You also help preserve our natural habitats because the less pesticides are used on farms, the less their toxins spread to the surrounding areas, many of which are undeveloped fields, forests, streams, and so on.

5. Organic food primarily is grown on small family-run farms.

Purchase organic food for your family and you’ll be supporting independent farmers as they grow food for their communities and support their families.

Working on small, family-run farms also is safer for those who work on the farms because they also are not exposed to pesticides.